11.2. Formal VA Claim

The VA states that the "original claim" is the first formal claim for a claimant on a prescribed VA application form. There is only one original claim per claimant. The two "original claim" forms are:

VA Form 21-526 Veteran's Application for Compensation or Pension, or

VA Form 21-526EZ Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits which must be submitted with a Fully Developed Claim.

After the "original claim" has been filed and a decision has been made by a VA Rating Officer, RO, all future pension or compensation claims, even if not related to the original claim, are referred to as "reopened claims". Future claims can be processed by using either VA form 21-526(b) Supplemental Claim Compensation: increase, new , secondary, service-connected conditions or reopens or VA 21-4138 Statement of Support.